Hospital bed



Dec. 14,.1943. L. E. DAVIS HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug. 9, 1941 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. E. DAVIS HOSPITAL BED v Dec. 14, 1943.

" Filed Aug. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 amen b011- L Lew-z'sZiJarz s L. E. DAVIS HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

1 A gk w Dec. 14, 1943. L. E. DAVIS HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug, 9. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 wuo L WiSZ-ZQW'iS Patented Dec. 14, 1943 um'rgo STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSPITAL BED Lewis E. Davis, Newport News, Va.

Application August 9, 1941, Serial No. 406,195

6' Claims.

This invention relates to a hospital bed, and it is an object of the invention to provide a bed of this kind so constructed to allow a patient to be readily supported in such different postures as may .be desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed of this kind having a bed bottom or spring constructed in a manner to include a leg supporting section with means associated therewith whereby said leg supporting section can be conveniently lowered as desired from the horizontal, or returned to the horizontal, and furthermore wherein said leg section when fully lowered provides means for supporting the foot portion of the bed when the foot piece is removed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hospital bed embodying a bed bottom or spring comprising pivotally connected sections, together with means for independently operating certain of the sections to enable a ready and convenient change in the posture of the patient occupying the bed.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a bed of this kind including a bed bottom or spring having a vertically swinging leg supporting section, said leg supporting section providing means whereby the bed structure can be readily supported in the fashion of a chair after the foot piece has been removed and to enable the patient to readily leave the bed or return thereto, the extending portions of the side rail of the bed, when the leg supporting section is lowered, serving as guide rails to facilitate the movement of the patient.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hospital bed wherein one of the end pieces, and preferably the head piece, is provided with means for supporting the necessary equipment to be utilized for irrigation and intravenous treatments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hospital bed including an adjustable bed bottom or spring to allow the desired changing of the postures of the patient, together with arm rests supported in such positions to be conveniently used by the patient when the head section of the bed bottom or spring is sufficiently struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved hospital bed whereby certain. important advantages are" attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- I Figure l is a view in side elevation, with portions broken away, of a hospital bed constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, second positionsof certain of the parts being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2. is a view in top plan of the bed as illustrated in Figure 1, with certain of the parts in section and the bed bottom or spring omitted;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of- Figure 2;

Figure 41s an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating'the hand rest partly folded;

Figure '7 is a detailed view, partly in top plan and partly in section, illustrating the foot support as herein embodied;

' Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 2, with certain of the parts in a second position;

Figure 9 is a view in top plan of the bed bottom or spring as herein comprised unapplied, the spring fabric being in fragment;

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on theline l0--l0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view in top plan showing both of the table leaves in assembled relation across the bed;

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of a bed constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention;

Figure l3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the means for operating the drive shaft as comprised in the second embodiment of the invention, the line of section being taken substantially on the line |3--|3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the means for operating one of the rock shafts from the drive shaft; and Y Figure is a horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line Ill-I5 of Figure 14.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 of the'drawings, the bed comprises a head piece H, a foot piece F and the side rails R. These parts may be as preferred, it' only being necessary to particularly point out that the foot piece Fiis to be readily applied or removed and that the head piece H includes the corner posts I, each of which having its upper portion hollow and open at the top of the post. The bore 2 of the post has suitably fixed'therein a member 3 intersecting the bore 2 and provided with a central opening 4 through which freely passes an elongated shank 5. Threading on this shank 5 is a nut 6 for contact from above with the member 3 whereby the shank 5 may be supported with the upper end thereof disposed a desired distance above the top of the post I. The upper end of this shank 5 carries a hook member I to provide means whereby there can be conveniently supported they required equipment for use in connection with irrigation and intravenous treatments. A When this hook member I is not to be used, the nut 6 can be so adjusted on the shank 5 as to allow the shank 5 and the hook member I to be housed within the bore 2 of the post I, and after which the upper open end of the post is closed by the swinging cap 8 carried by the upper end portion of the post I, and which cap may be of such design or configuration as preferred. I d

The side rails R are conventional insofar as pertains to the general construction and mounting thereof, but each of said side rails, however, has its foot portion laterally offset, as at 9, so that in the assembled bed structure the foot portions I0 ofthe side rails R will be spaced apart a distance greater than the remaining or forward portions of the rails R, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The foot portions I9 have interposed therebetween the transversely disposed bar II. This bar I I is suitably secured to the side rails R and provides a pivotal mounting for the side arms I2 of a substantially U-shaped supporting member M. The side arms I2 of this member M are positioned closely and adjacent to the foot portions I9 of the rails R, while the intermediate or cross member I4 of the frameM, when said frame is in a horizontal position, is closely adjacent to the outer ends of the foot portions I9 or to the foot piece F.

Associated with the bed structure is a bed bottom or spring B. This bottom or spring B is adapted to have placed thereon the usual mattress, and said bed bottom or spring comprises a head section having side arms I5, each of which having its inner end portion pivotally connected, as at I6, to the end portion of a side arm ll of a central section; Each of the side arms I! of the central sectionhas pivotal connection, as at I8, with a side arm I9 of an upper leg supporting section, and each of the arms I9 is pivotally connected, as at 29, to an end portion of an arm 2| of a lower leg supporting section 'of the bed bottom or spring. These various sections of the bed bottom or spring are of such sizes as may be preferred or necessitated by practice. f

When in horizontal position the side arms I5, I! and I9 rest from above upon the forward portions of the side rails R while the side arms 2| of the lower leg supporting section rest upon the arms l2 of-the frame M with the pivotal connection between each of the adjacent arms 1 I9 and 2I so positioned with respect to the offset portion 9 of the adjacent side rail R to allow the frame M and the lower leg section of the bed bottom or spring supported thereby to be lowered or raised. The swinging movement of the frame M is entirely below the rails R and the upward movement of the frame M is limited by contact with each of the side rails R of an outstanding stop lug 22 carried by the adjacent arm I2 of the frame M. The contact of the stop lugs 22 with the rails R occurs when the frame M is in its horizontal position or in a position substantially coplanar with the portions III of the side rails R.

At a suitable point intermediate their ends the side arms I2 of the frame M are connected by a bar 23 with which is operatively connected the rigid links 24 extending downwardly therefrom. These links 24 are also pivotally connected, as at 25, to the rock arms 26 depending from a shaft 21 extending transversely between the rails- R, and each end portion of which is rotatably supported by a bearing bracket 28 depending from a side rail R closely adjacent to, but forwardly of, the ofiset portion 9 of the side rail. Upon requisite turning of the shaft 21 the frame M, together with the lower leg supporting section of the bed bottom or springnmay be lowered as desired with respect to the side rails R. When the frame M is fully lowered, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, said frame M will provide a support for the foot portion of the structure after the foot piece F has been removed. This is of advantage as after the removal of the foot piece F the patient can be more conveniently placed upon or removed from the bed, or more especially when the patient is in such condition as to enable him to assist himself. Withthe foot piece F removed and the frame M fully lowered to serve as a support, the portions II) of the side rails R will then serve as effective guides and supports.

When the foot piece is lowered as desired, as illustrated by full lines in Figure 1, it is of advantage to employ a foot rest for the convenience of the patient. As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 7 of the drawings, the foot rest comprises a main section or plate 29 of desired width and of a length to extend substantially entirely across the assembled bed structure.

This member or plate 29, at its opposite end portions, is provided with the rearwardly directed ears 39 between each pair of which is received an outstanding lug 3| carried by a sleeve 32. The assembled ears 3!] and lugs 3| have disposed therethrough the pivot pins 33 on each of which isthreaded a clamping nut 34. The nuts 34 provide means whereby themember or plate 29 may be supported in desired position with respect to the lowered frame M. The lower or free portion of the member or plate 29 has telescopically engaging therein an extension plate or member 35.held in its desired selected adjustments with respect to the body or plate 29 by the holding screws 36 threading from below into 'the body or plate 29 for clamping or holding erably below the pivotal connection [8 of the adjacent side arms I1 and I9, is a bearing plate 36' which provides a mounting for an end portion of a rock shaft 31 which extends transversely across the bed structure. This shaft 31 is provided with the forwardly and downwardly disposed rock arms 38, the lower end portions of which being pivotally connected, as at 39, to the lower end portions of the rigid links 40. of these links 46 has its upper end portion pivotally connected to a rod 4| connecting the side arms I9 so that upon requisite rocking of the shaft 31 the upper leg supporting section of the bed bottom or spring will be raised or lowered. Upon the raising of the upper leg supporting section, the frame M is at its limit of upward movement or in position between the portions III of the side rails R so that as the arms l9 of the upper leg supporting section move upwardly the outer or free end portions of the arms 2| of the lower leg supporting section will freely ride along the side arms l2 of the frame M so that the upper leg supporting section and the lower leg supporting section may assume a required position, as indicated by broken lines in' Figure 1. The shaft 31 also has depending therefrom a rock arm 42, which is pivotally connected, as at 43, to the outer end portion of an elongated rod 44. This rod 44, throughout the major portion of its length, is tubular with its end portion remote from its pivotal connection 43 open. The open end portion of this rod 44 telescopically engages within an elongated sleeve 45 rigidly secured to and extending from a wall 46 of a boxing 41. This boxing 41 is freely mounted on a shaft 48 extending transversely of the bed at the head portion thereof, and each end portion of this shaft 48 is rotatably supported by a bracket 49 depending from a side rail R. One end portion of this shaft 48 is provided with an operating crank 50, or other suitable means whereby the shaft 48 may be rotated in either Each.

rod 44 will be either extended or retracted to cally engages within an elongated sleeve 58 extending from a wall of a boxing 59 freely mounted on a shaft 60. The shaft 68 is also at the headportion of the bed structure and is provided with an operating crank 6| or the like whereby the shaft 60 may be rotated as required to lower or raise the frame M as desired. The shaft 69 operates to impart desired endwise movement to the rod 51 in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth with respect to the rod 44, and for which reason a more detailed description and illustration is not believed necessary.

Interposed between and connected to the side arms I5 of the head section of the bed bottom or spring is a rod 62 with which is pivotally connected the upper end portion of the rigid links 63. The lower portion of each of these links 63 is pivotally connected, as at 64, to an end portion of a rock arm 65 carried by a shaft 66 extending transversely of and between the rails R. Each end portion of this shaft 66 is rotatably supported by a bearing 61 depending from the adjacent side rail R. The shaft 66 is provided with a further rock arm 68 depending therefrom and to the lower end portion of which is pivotally connected, as at 69, an end portion of a tubular rod 18 which telescopically engages within a sleeve 1|. This sleeve 1| is carried by a wall of a housing 12 freely mounted on a shaft 13, each end portion of which is rotatably supported by a bearing 14 depending from a side rail R. The shaft 13 is provided witha crank 15 or other suitable means for rotating the same to extend or retract the rod 19 to raise or lower, as desired, the head section of the bed bottom or spring. The shaft 13 is operatively engaged with the rod 10 in the same manner as hereinbefore stated with respect to the rod 44.

Interposed between the side rails R at the head portions thereof are the cross members 16 with said cross members positioned above the shafts 13, 48 and 60. Each of these cross members 16 has depending therefrom the bearings 11 for the shaft immediately therebelow, whereby further support for the shaft is provided and also to assure the desired maintenance upon the shaft of the boxings 59, 41 and 12.

Again referring to the plate or member 29 of the foot rest, it is to be further explained that the sleeves 32 are slidably and snugly mounted on the lower portions of the corner posts 18 of the foot piece F and said sleeves are locked in desired positions along said posts 18 by a conventional binding screw 19, or the like. This adjustment along the comer posts 18 of the foot piece -F further facilitates and assures the proper positioning of the member or plate 29 with respect to the outer or free end of the frame M when in a lowered position.

The central portion of each of the side rails R, at a location alongside of a side arm 11 of the central section of the bed bottom or springs, has secured thereto a plate 80. This plate 80, as particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, extends a slight distance below its side rail R, and to the lower marginal portion of this plate is hingedly or pivotally connected, as at 8 I, the lower or inner end portions of a pair of substantially parallel elongated posts 82. These posts are maintained in desired assembled relation by the intermediate cross bars 83 interposed between the posts 82 and suitably secured thereto. These posts 82 are further connected at their upper extremities by an arm 84 which extends a desired distance beyond the posts 82 in a direction toward the head end of the bed to provide an arm rest or support 85. This arm rest 85 may be upholstered or otherwise finished as preferred.

Each of the posts 82, as herein disclosed, is L-shaped in cross section and has a flange a disposed in a direction transversely of the bed. The upper end b of this flange a is disposed on a bevel of 45 degrees. The portion of the arm 84 between the posts 82 has hingedly or pivotally connected thereto, as at 86, the supporting members 81 for a table leaf 88. These supports 81 are provided with depending flanges c, the inner ends of which being connected by a cross strip 89 distion.

posed on a bevel or incline of 4 5 degrees. This plate 89 is so positioned as to contact with the outer beveled ends b of the posts 82 when the leaf 88 is swung inwardly of the bed to assure said leaf 88 being supported in an effective position across the bed. It is also to be stated that as illustrated in Figure 6, whereupon the posts 83 will be swung in a position depending from its side rail R so that the leaf 88 and its associated parts will be entirely out of the way.

In the embodiment. of the invention as illustrated in Figures 12 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, the general construction of the bed proper and the bed bottom or spring is substantially the same'as hereinbefore described in detail with respect to the first embodiment of the inven- In the second form, each of the; links 90 pivotally connected with a side arm 9| of a lower leg supporting section, is pivotally connected, as at 9'2, with a rock arm 93 depending from a, shaft 94 bridging the spacebetween the side rails S of the bed structure and suitably supported thereby. The support for the shaft 94 carried by one of the side rails S constitutes a housing 95 and fixed to the shaft 94 within this housing 95 is a worm wheel 96 which meshes with a worm 9'I freely mounted on a drive shaft 98 extending lengthwise of the side rail S. One extremity of the worm 9! is formed to provide a clutch face 99 with which coacts a clutch member I08. This clutch member I88 is mounted on the shaft 98 for rotation therewith, but free for movement lengthwise thereof so that the member I88 can be shifted into or out of engagement with the clutch face 99 when desired. This clutch mem-.

ber I88 is positioned within the housing 95and is provided with a circumferentially disposed continuous groove [M in which is received the inner end portion of an operating member I82 extending within the housing 95 through a suitably disposed and positioned slot I83. The outer end portion of this operating member I82 is provided with an enlargement or head I84 to allow the clutch member I88 to be manually shifted into clutching or dec1utching position with respect to the worm 91 as required.v Obviously, with the clutch member I88 in clutching engagement with the clutch face 99 of the worm 91, the worm 9'! and shaft 98 will rotate in unison. With the member I00 in declutching position the shaft 98 will rotate independently of the worm 91.

The rock shaft I85 for operating the upper leg supporting section is also disposed transversely of the bedstructure and operatively supported by the side railsS. ,One of the, supports for the shaft I85 constitutes a housing I08 through i which the shaft 98 extends and which shafts 98 and I85 cooperate in the same manner as hereinbefore described with respect to the shafts 94 and 98. The rock shaft I0'I for the head section of the bed bottom or spring is also disposed transversely of the bed androtatably supported by the side rails S, with onejof such supports constituting a housing I88 through which the shaft 98 is also directed. This shaft I01 and the shaft 98 have the same operating coaction as hereinbefore set forth with respect to the shaft tlcularly stated at this time that while the shafts 94 and the shaft 98. It is, therefore, to be par- 94, I and I8'I are driven from the common shaft 98, yet each of said shafts can be readily operated independently of the other when so required.

The shaft 98 extends within a housing I89 depending from the head portion of the side rail S carrying the housings 95, I88 and I88. The end portion of the shaft within this housing I09 carries a gear II8 meshing with a gear III within the housing I89. This gear III is fixed upon a shaft II2 rotatably supported by a side wall of the housing I09 and extending outwardly beyond the housing I89 so that the shaft IIZ may be rotated at will. and in the required direction by a hand crank H3 or the like.

The intermediate member Id of the lower leg section has mounted therealong a bumper N4 of. rubber compound or other material desired. It is believed to be obvious that a similar member is to be employed in connection with the lower foot section as comprised in the second embodiment of the invention. This member has direct contact with the floor or kindred supporting surface when the member M is in its lowermost position to serve as a support for the foot end of the bed structure after the foot Piece F has been removed. This bumper is, therefore, of particular importance to eliminate marring of the surface of the floor or the like, and to also assure the lowered member M having effective contact with the floor surface.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a hospital bed constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

l. A hospital bed including a head piece, side members, a removable foot piece, the foot portions of the side members being outwardly offset and having their top surfaces coplanar with the top surfaces of the forward portions, and a swing ing frame supported-between said outwardly offing frame providing a continuous support lengthwise of the bed for an articulated bed bottom.

2. A hospital bed including a head piece, side members, a removable foot piece, the foot portions of the-side members being outwardly offset, a swinging frame-supported between said outwardly oifset portions of the side members, said swinging frame having side arms, the side arms of the frame being substantially aligned with the forward portions of the side members when the frame is at the limit of its upward swinging movement, the forward portions of the side mombers and the side arms of the swinging frame providing a continuous support lengthwise of the bed for an articulated bed bottom, and means for raising or lowering the frame and for maintaining said frame in its different adjusted positions, said frame being of a length when in its fully lowered position to contact with an underlying supporting surface for sustaining the foot end of the bed when the foot piece is removed.

3. A hospital bed including a head piece, side members, a foot piece connected with the side members for complete removal therefrom, the foot portions of the side members being outwardly offset, a swinging frame supported between said outwardly offset portions of the side members, said swinging frame having side arms, the side arms of the frame being substantially aligned with the forward portions of the side members when the frame is at the limit of its upward swinging movement, the forward portions of the side members and the side arms of the swinging frame providing a continuous support lengthwise of the bed for an articulated bed bottom, and means for raising or lowering the frame and for maintaining said frame in its different adjusted positions, said frame being of a length when in its fully lowered position to contact with an underlying supporting surface for sustaining the foot end of the bed when the foot piece is removed, the offset foot portions of the side members constituting freely extending guide arms when the frame is lowered and the foot piece is removed.

4. A hospital bed comprising a head piece, side members connected with the head piece, and a foot piece connected with the side members, a

frame supported between the side members at the foot of the bed for oscillation on a horizontal axis, the frame being swingable on said axis from a position coplanar with the side members downwardly to a vertical position, a bed bottom supported upon the side members and upon the frame, the bed bottom comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, one of said sections being designed to support the lower leg and overlying the frame and an adjoining section being designed to support the upper leg, a pair of rock shafts disposed transversely of and supported by the side members, a lever and link connection between one shaft and the frame, a lever and link connection between the other shaft and the upper leg supporting portion of the bed bottom, and mechanism operable from a position adjacent the head piece for selectively imparting rocking motion to said shafts.

5. A hospital bed structure as set forth in claim 4, in which said mechanism includes a gearing unit supported for rocking motion upon an axis extending transversely of the bed, a crank actuated shaft for imparting power through the gear unit, a driven shaft receiving power through the gear unit from the crank actuated shaft and extending longitudinally of the bed, a reciprocating arm extending longitudinally of the bed and having operative connection at one end with a rock shaft. and a screw connection between the other end of the reciprocating arm and the driven shaft for extending and retracting said arm.

6. A hospital bed structure as set forth in claim 4, in which said mechanism comprises a single shaft extending lengthwise of the bed, means for imparting rotary motion to said single shaft, said single shaft passing across said rock shafts, and a clutch controlled means for selectively establishing driving connection between the single shaft and the rock shafts.

LEWIS E. DAVIS. 

